The next Brussels Development Briefings no. 42 on Women entrepreneurs – key players in ACP agribusiness development shall be held on 17th September 2015. Women make essential contributions to agriculture and rural economic activities in ACP countries but still face limitations in integrating the agribusiness sector and upscaling their businesses. This briefing will look at successful business cases led by women entrepreneurs and analysing the drivers of success.

The Brussels Development Briefings are regular events organised in Brussels by the Technical Centre for Agriculture (CTA) – in collaboration with the European Commission, the ACP Group, and other partners – on key issues and challenges for rural development in the context of EU/ACP cooperation. http://brusselsbriefing.net

Speaking on the sidelines of the Luanda International Fair, Paulo Varela, chairman of the Portugal-Angola Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIPA) expressed contentment at the new Private Investment Law, which was approved this week in the Angolan parliament. Paulo Varela said “Angola needs investment in the productive sector, which requires legislative stability, as well as a stable fiscal framework that is as simple as possible,” and this new Law shall make the process “friendlier” for companies. Previously, Angolan law required a minimum of US$1 million private investment. The new law sets a minimum participation of 35% for Angolan partners and authorization to invest.

President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi recently called on French businesspeople to invest in industrial agriculture in Mozambique during his last official visit to Paris. President Nyusi underscored the strength of his country’s workforce, which can be leveraged for the agricultural sector. A French delegation is due to visit Mozambique later on in the year to explore business opportunities with local business people. Other important sectors for future business opportunities include the gas sector, renewable energy and banking.

The Italian Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Maurizio Martina confirmed that Italy is committed to contribute to the relaunch of Angolan agriculture. On the sidelines of the Angola-Italy Business Forum, Martina expressed interest in developing partnerships between companies from both countries after the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the agricultural sector with his Angolan counterpart. Martina said, “We have agricultural models based on family businesses and I think this agricultural model can be adapted to the Angolan experience.” Angolan Minister for Agriculture, Afonso Pedro Canga, was pleased with the support voiced by his counterpart for Angola’s recovery and development of agriculture plan.

The next Brussels Development Briefings no. 42 on Women entrepreneurs – key players in ACP agribusiness development shall be held on 17th September 2015. Women make essential contributions to agriculture and rural economic activities in ACP countries but still face limitations in integrating the agribusiness sector and upscaling their businesses. This briefing will look at successful business cases led by women entrepreneurs and analysing the drivers of success. Register, follow live and find out more at:http://brusselsbriefing.net

There is concern in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula where six agricultural cooperatives are receiving loans from a Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) for production and marketing. However the very high interest rates have received the attention of local media. The loans, which are approximately $39,500 come from the Mozambican Association for the Promotion of Modern Cooperatives or AMPCM, in partnership the a Norwegian development agency, Norges Vel/ Royal Norwegian Society for Development. Natalino Barnete, coordinator of the cooperatives for northern Mozambique, explained that the money was distributed on the basis of the needs presented in the business plan of each of the cooperatives and that if the loans were repaid in time, this would create a favorable environment for other organizations. The cooperatives must repay the money within seven months at an interest rate of 12.5%.

The 'Addis Tax Initiative' is a new joint initiative of developed and developing countries, which aims to avoid the negative spill-over effects of domestic revenue policies and to improve domestic public finance in developing countries. It was formally launched at the Third International Financing for Development Conference. In his speech on International Support to Domestic Resource Mobilisation, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica underlined that "effective domestic revenue mobilisation is a powerful driver and a prerequisite for good governance and economic growth".

Françoise Moreau, Head of Unit, DG DEVCO Unit D4, Africa-EU Partnership and African Peace Facility introduced the African-European TIGER partnership, which was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2002. It aims to develop the local capacity in Africa for sustainable water resource management through best use of satellite derived information. Moreau explained that the Space troika meetings between African Union and European Commission allows for dialogue on the benefits of satellite assisted water management for poverty reduction. She empahsised the importance of Global monitoring for environment and security (GMES) to ensure that data can have a positive impact on lives – this is key to development cooperation.

The draft opinion on the possible extension of geographical indication (GI) protection of the EU to non-agricultural products, including raw materials has been made public. The European Parliament’s draft opinion on the subject explains that the EP “takes the view that extending the scope of the geographical indication protection system to cover non-agricultural products could help to make the EU’s position on GIs still stronger and more cogent, both in bilateral trade negotiations and in multilateral forums, the ultimate aim being to provide a high level of protection for all high-quality European products outside the EU.”Furthermore, it also recognises that non-agricultural GIs should have the same system of registration and monitoring of agri/food products. In sum, it underscores a shift to a more holistic and regulated approach to a broader-scope of GIs in the EU’s internal market, and thereafter in international trade.

Roberto Ridolfi, Director for sustainable growth and development at the European commission's DG DevCo – EuropeAid explains the new flagship 'EU biodiversity for life' (B4LIFE) initiative, which brings together all EU cooperation activities in the area of biodiversity and ecosystems under the same umbrella framework. The B4LIFE programme aims to contribute to socioeconomic development and the eradication of poverty. Currently, 70% of the world's poor live in rural areas, depending directly on biodiversity and ecosystems for their subsistence. These ecosystem services provide livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, enable access to water and to health and contribute significantly to climate change mitigation and adaptation.